Grande Rochère

From the car park at the end of the road at Planaval (about 1,760 m), above La Salle, follow the dirt road almost level for 1.6 km to the Les Éculés alp (1,887 m), cross the stream and take path no. 7 up meadows and old landslide debris. A 300 m step closes the valley; the path zigzags up its right side to a shoulder at the start of the Bonalex basin and the Bonalex alp (2,340 m), 1¼–1½ hours. The Grande Rochère's SE face and E ridge rise opposite. Drop to the flat valley floor, cross the stream on stones and climb the grassy slope left of the rounded spur coming down from the summit ridge, slanting right on faint traces. Above about 2,650 m the slope steepens into scree; zigzag up to a broad, broken rock band, traverse right along its base (white arrows), then slant up right by cairns onto a more obvious rib and follow it on grass and small rocks. The traces lead into the scree gully descending from the col between the Grande Rochère and the Petite Rochère; just before the col, turn right and climb the final slope through tilted rock and rubble ledges to the broad summit, 2¾–3¼ hours from Bonalex. There is no real path above Bonalex and the line must be found in places, but there is no climbing. The final gully is loose and steep, with stones easily knocked down onto people below, and the gully can hold snow into early summer. Descend the same way in 2–2½ hours; from Bonalex the alp road is an alternative back to Planaval.